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HB846 • 2026

MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Prohibits drivers from obscuring license plates with coverings or films

MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Prohibits drivers from obscuring license plates with coverings or films

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Mike Bayham
Last action
2026-05-22
Official status
Signed by the Governor - Act 322
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details about the requirement for license plates to be clearly visible at all times. This statement was removed as it is not explicitly supported by the provided text.

License Plate Visibility Law

This law makes it illegal to cover or obscure license plates on vehicles with any material that reduces their visibility, and sets fines for violations.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it against the rules to put anything over a car's license plate that makes it hard to read.
  • Defines 'obscure' as making something less clear or visible.
  • Sets fines of up to $75 for first-time offenders and up to $250 for repeat offenses.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Drivers who have cars with Louisiana license plates.

Terms To Know

obscure
To make something less clear or hard to see

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law only applies in the state of Louisiana.
  • It does not specify what materials are allowed on license plates, as long as they do not obscure them.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Filed

Plain English: SSHB846 4931 5524 HOUSE SUMMARY OF SENATE AMENDMENTS HB 846 2026 Regular Session Bayham MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Prohibits drivers from obscuring license plates with coverings or films Synopsis of Senate Amendments 1.

  • SSHB846 4931 5524 HOUSE SUMMARY OF SENATE AMENDMENTS HB 846 2026 Regular Session Bayham MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Prohibits drivers from obscuring license plates with coverings or films Synopsis of Senate Amendments 1.
  • Makes technical changes.
  • Digest of Bill as Finally Passed by Senate Present law (R.S.
  • 32:53(A)(3)) requires that a permanent registration license plate be securely fastened, clearly visible, and free from foreign materials.
Adopted

Plain English: HFAHB846 4573 2235 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Representative Bayham to Engrossed House Bill No.

  • HFAHB846 4573 2235 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Representative Bayham to Engrossed House Bill No.
  • 846 by Representative Bayham 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 1, line 5, after "violations;" and before "and to" insert "to provide for an effective 3 date;" 4 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 5 On page 2, after line 10, insert the following: 6 "Section 2.
Filed

Plain English: The amendment to HB846, as voted on by the House, involves concurring with Senate amendments that prohibit drivers from obscuring license plates.

  • Drivers are not allowed to cover or obscure their vehicle's license plate with any material such as films or covers.
  • The official amendment text does not provide specific details about what the Senate amendments entail beyond prohibiting the obscuring of license plates, so exact changes made by the Senate are unclear.
Adopted

Plain English: SCAHB846 4379 2491 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works to Reengrossed House Bill No.

  • SCAHB846 4379 2491 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works to Reengrossed House Bill No.
  • 846 by Representative Bayham 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 2, line 1, after "electronic" and before "nonelectronic" change "and" to "or" Page 1 of 1
Draft

Plain English: SCAHB846 4379 2333 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works to Reengrossed House Bill No.

  • SCAHB846 4379 2333 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works to Reengrossed House Bill No.
  • 846 by Representative Bayham 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 2, line 1, after "electronic" and before "nonelectronic" change "and" to "or" Page 1 of 1

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-22 H

    Effective date: 01/01/2027.

  2. 2026-05-22 H

    Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 322.

  3. 2026-05-19 H

    Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. 2026-05-18 S

    Signed by the President of the Senate.

  5. 2026-05-18 H

    Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  6. 2026-05-13 H

    Read by title, roll called, yeas 94, nays 2, Senate amendments concurred in.

  7. 2026-05-12 H

    Scheduled for concurrence on 05/13/2026.

  8. 2026-05-12 H

    Received from the Senate with amendments.

  9. 2026-05-11 S

    The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 1 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  10. 2026-04-28 S

    Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  11. 2026-04-27 S

    Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  12. 2026-04-22 S

    Reported with amendments.

  13. 2026-03-25 S

    Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

  14. 2026-03-24 S

    Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  15. 2026-03-23 H

    Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 101, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  16. 2026-03-18 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 03/23/2026.

  17. 2026-03-17 H

    Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  18. 2026-03-16 H

    Reported favorably (15-0).

  19. 2026-03-09 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

  20. 2026-02-27 H

    First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

  21. 2026-02-27 H

    Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

  22. 2026-02-27 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Prohibits drivers from obscuring license plates with coverings or films

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 846
BY REPRESENTATIVES BAYHAM AND MANDIE LANDRY
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 32:53(A)(3), relative to the display of motor vehicle license
3 plates; to prohibit the application of coverings, films, substances, or devices over or
4 on a license plate that impedes the visibility of the license plate; to define the term
5 "obscure"; to establish penalties for violations; to provide for an effective date; and
6 to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 32:53(A)(3) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §53. Proper equipment required on vehicles; display of plate
10 A.
11 * * *
12 (3)(a) Every permanent registration license plate shall at all times be
13 securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned, so as to prevent the plate
14 from swinging, and at a height not less than twelve inches from the ground,
15 measuring from the bottom of such plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible,
16 and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly
17 legible. Unless authorized by the commissioner, a person shall not apply a any
18 covering, film, electrochromatic film, coating, spray, frame, bracket, or any
19 substance to , electronic or nonelectronic device, or any material over or on the
20 license plate or use an electronic device or electrochromatic film that obscures from
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 846 ENROLLED
1 any angle the numbers, characters, year registration sticker, or name of the
2 jurisdiction issuing the plate.
3 (b) For purposes of this Paragraph, "obscure" shall refer to any action or
4 method that diminishes the visibility, legibility, or reflectivity of any numbers,
5 characters, decals, stickers, symbols, or jurisdictional identifiers on a license plate.
6 (c) Notwithstanding the penalty provisions contained in R.S. 32:57, any
7 person who violates the provisions provided for in this Paragraph shall incur a fine
8 not to exceed seventy-five dollars for the first offense and a fine of two hundred fifty
9 dollars for a second and any subsequent offense.
10 * * *
11 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.